BYU’s running back room still has a few moving parts behind LJ Martin, but one freshman is starting to stand out fast.
On Tuesday, Aaron Roderick said the Cougars haven’t locked in the full pecking order yet, but he made it clear that a handful of names are in the mix.
"I don't think we have the exact depth set yet," Roderick said. "But Preston Rex is gonna play this year.
Devon [Eka] is gonna play this year, and then this kid Journee. He's, I don't know, we haven't ruled him out yet.
He is explosive. Like every time he touches the ball, something exciting happens, it seems like."
That last part tracks with what has shown up on the field. Journee Tonga, a late addition to BYU’s roster, is only 5-foot-8 but weighs 198 pounds and brings plenty of strength for his size. The California native drew an offer from San Jose State, but he passed on that scholarship chance and chose to walk on at BYU.
Tonga also arrives with a strong high school résumé. As a junior, he rushed for 2,267 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 9.3 yards per carry.
As a senior, he ran for 1,334 yards on fewer carries and took on more work as a slot receiver, which boosted his receiving numbers. He’s known as a slippery runner with real open-field burst.
That ability showed up in Tuesday’s practice, when Tonga worked with the second- and third-team offense in live periods. After catching a short screen, he shook off a couple defenders with a sharp juke and turned a small gain into a 10-yard play.
That kind of juice matters in a backfield like BYU’s. Sione Moa is the backup to Martin, but injuries have limited him to just 236 rushing yards over the past two years. And at a position where depth can disappear quickly, the Cougars know they need more than one or two reliable options.
In 2024, BYU was already down to its fourth-string running back by September.
If Tonga keeps flashing like this and proves ready as a true freshman, BYU’s running back group could look a lot sturdier heading into the 2026 season.
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